Molecule of the Month: Relating Organic Chemistry Principles to Drug Action

Abstract

A molecule of the month extra credit assignment was introduced to a didactic introductory pharmacology and medicinal chemistry course for first-year pharmacy students. The structure of a clinically approved drug molecule was presented to students each month of the course after the first month. Students would answer questions pertaining to the name of the drug, its mechanism of action, specific aspects of its chemistry, and the indication(s) it is used in. Mean and median course scores were compared between classes of students who undertook molecule of the month questions and classes that did not. Extra credit earned from molecule of the month questions could not be applied to failing scores. Students overwhelmingly participated (85–96%) in answering molecule of the month questions. Students who had the molecule of the month questions available performed significantly better than those that did not. The number of students receiving a final course score >91% increased more than 3-fold, and no students attai...